MLB Playoffs 2023: 4 Wild Card Series Matchups

The 2023 MLB Playoffs are here, and the Wild Card matchups begin on October 3. The fresh autumn air makes for the busiest time of year on the sports calendar. Get ready for weekday afternoon baseball, the heart of the NFL season, and the beginning of the NBA and NHL regular seasons.

The Philadelphia Phillies will face the Miami Marlins in the National League Wild Card Series at Citizens Bank Park. Besides the ultimate focus in the City of Brotherly Love, the rest of baseball has some intriguing matchups in the opening round.

The Phillies own the best home-field advantage in Major League Baseball. The rowdy Philadelphia fans plan on bringing the heat during Red October. Expect to see the red rally towels waving when the Marlins visit Citizens Bank Park.

Bryce Harper has elevated himself to folk hero status in Philadelphia. His home run in the 2022 National League Championship Series lit the city on fire. However, he hopes to accomplish the ultimate goal in 2023 by earning his first World Series ring.

The Phillies will send ace Zack Wheeler to the mound in Game 1 against Miami, and Aaron Nola will start Game 2.

As always, the focus is on the hometown team. Phillies fans shouldn’t let that stop them from enjoying one of the most exciting playoff systems in all of sports. The 162-game marathon is over, and the playoff sprint is here.

Each team will play in a best-of-three series. All game times will stay consistent throughout the series. Each series will also air on the same network for the Wild Card Round.

The National League has a pair of powerhouse teams waiting for the Wild Card winners. The Atlanta Braves will wait for the winner of the Phillies-Marlins series.

The American League matchups feature a pair of 90+ win teams facing each others and a pair of team that landed in the 80s facing off. 

Phillies: 90-72, 4th Seed in National League
Marlins: 84-77, 5th Seed in National League
Citizens Bank Park in Philadelphia, PA
Tuesday, Oct. 3-Thursday, Oct. 5: first pitch at 8:08 pm EST for all three games
ESPN

The Phillies own the best home-field advantage in Major League Baseball. They’ll face a Marlins team that has given them fits in recent seasons. The winner of this inter-division matchup will go on to face the National League East champion Atlanta Braves in the NLDS.

Brewers: 92-70, 3rd Seed in National League
Diamondbacks: 84-78, 6th Seed in National League
American Family Field in Milwaukee, WI
Tuesday, Oct. 3-Thursday, Oct. 5: first pitch at 7:08 pm EST for all three games
ESPN2

The Brewers quietly paced the NL Central in the second half of the 2023 season. Corbin Burnes at the top of the rotation and Devin Williams at the back of the bullpen create a daunting task for the Diamondbacks, who had an underwhelming final week of the regular season to fall into the sixth spot in the NL.

Atlanta Braves: 104-58
Los Angeles Dodgers: 100-62

Twins: 87-75
Blue Jays: 89-73
Target Field in Minneapolis, MN
Tuesday, Oct. 3-Thursday, Oct. 5: first pitch at 4:38 pm EST for all three games
ESPN

The Twins took control of the weak AL Central, and they must prove their worth against better competition. The Blue Jays are hungry for their first World Series in 30 years after some close calls in recent seasons. Toronto has advanced to the playoffs in five of the past nine seasons.

Rays: 99-64
Rangers: 90-72
Tropicana Field in St. Petersburg, FL
Tuesday, Oct. 3-Thursday, Oct. 5: first pitch at 3:08 pm EST for all three games
ABC

The seeding might not have landed in the fairest way, as both teams own better records than the two teams in the other American League series. However, this matchup features arguably the two strongest teams in the opening round of the 2023 MLB Playoffs.

Baltimore Orioles: 101-61
Houston Astros: 90-72